DEIA – Mallorca

Overview

One of the coastal villages in the Spanish island of Majorca is Deià; this is situated at a distance of about 10 miles from the village Valldemossa. The residents in this city love music and literature. Oranges and olive trees are grown on the steep hills that overlook the Mediterranean. After the World War I the English, German and expatriates settled in this village.

Robert Graves, author of the historical novel Hercules My Shipmate was an English scholar, novelist and poet; he was one of the foreigners who settled in this village in 1930 and he set up a press called Seizin press. He came back to Deia after serving in the war and lived in this village until death. Many of his stories are based on this town as a base. His house was converted to a museum.

Robert Graves wrote "I, Claudius" under the Teix mountain. The young ladies - 'white goddesses' appeared to have inspired Graves to write.

History

The history of this village goes back to the prehistoric period; the name originated from the Arabic word "ad daia" which means hamlet.

This town was built in the days prior to town-planning days and the buildings were built using the materials available locally; in spite of this, the houses fit well in the landscape. The backdrop for this village is 'Serra de Tramuntana' mountains. It has an ancient Church.

The cove, Cala lies on the dusty track going through the olive groves and the fishermen cast their nets early in the morning. Walking to the cala is quite pleasant; you can also go by car but the distance is more.

The people in the village are used to the foreigners coming to their town and you hardly find them showing any distinction between the foreigners and locals. A number of artists, writers and musicians have made Deia their permanent home.

Culture

Some of the important places that you should visit in this village are the museums – Parish and Son Marroig and Monastery of Miramar.

Cuisine

A number of restaurants and cafes exist in the main street of the village. They offer bocadillos, tapas and pa amb oli which is bread coated with olive oil. You can also get Mallorcan cuisine. 

Sports and Entertainment

There is a sea cove in Deia that is enchanting. You can swim or snorkel from a pebbled beach.

Business

The population in Deià is 850 and its economy is dependent on agriculture, fine arts, hand crafts and tourism.

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CADIZ
Overview

CÁDIZ was founded by Phoenicians in the year 1100 BC and is one of the oldest Spanish settlements. It is also one of the main ports in Spain. In the eighteenth century, the central part of this town got the appearance as it stands today.

This city stands on a peninsula and projects out in a bay and most of it is surrounded by water. The Phoenicians gave the name Gadir to this city. Later on Carthaginians were in control of this city until it became a popular port in Roman times. Moors and Visigoths neglected this city; however in the 16th century it attained popularity as a launching point for journey to America. Sir Francis Drake raided Cadiz in order to take control of trade with America and successfully resisted the siege by Napoleon's army.

Some of the walls such as Landward Gate built in the 18th century still stand as they were. Many of the Cadiz buildings indicate its links overseas. It is worth visiting places such as the city’s cathedral and churches - San Felipe Neri and Santa Cruz. La Santa Cueva is the home for Goya paintings.

History

Cadiz became a naval base in the Roman period but went obscure until the year 1262 when it was captured by Alfonso X from the Muslims. This city became important with the discovery of America when Columbus used this port while going on the 2nd and 4th voyages. In the 18th century, this city enjoyed its golden period when 75% of the trade from Spain to America was from this city.

Culture

1.Cathedral Nueva – is an 18th century structure that has a dome of golden tiles. If you make a noise standing in the circular basement, you will get a wonderful echo effect.
2.Archeology and Fine arts museum – has a good collection of jewelry, glassware, puppets and Rubens canvas.
3.Santa Cruz Oratorio – is a church having an oval 18th century chapel; in its upper floor you will find the Goya paintings exhibiting Miracles of Loaves and Fishes.
4.San Feligo Ner Oratori – is a Church where a radical group met in the year 1812 to establish the people’s sovereignty.
5.Municipal Historical Museum.

Cuisine

Some of the popular dishes in this town are tapas of battered or fried fish, cuttlefish, shellfish, white anchovies, shrimp omelettes, etc.

Shopping

The following shops are popular:

1.Belle Epoque – is an antique shop that specializes in furniture.
2.Casa Rodrigues – is a showroom for home décor items.

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Fascinating Historical Spanish Cities

We are living in the 21st century and there are many countries that have gone through number of developmental projects to meet the requirements of this century; so has Spain. But for good luck, there are still a few cities in Spain which have not gone through the modernization. Granada, Valencia and Seville are those cities which have still preserved the old Spanish history and charm.

Granada:

Granada is among the list of those cities in Spain which are favorite places for the visitors on account of many historic charms. There are a number of attractions in this city but visitors give prime importance to the Alhambra. Alhambra was used both as fortress and Palace by the Moorish government during their rule on Granada. This place is unbelievable in terms of its designing and architecture. The whole place has still preserved Moorish history in excellent form. The streets in the city are narrow and every turn has a new surprise for the visitors.

Valencia:

This is another must see place in Spain. Valencia has resemblance to the city of Barcelona but there is one huge difference between both the cities. Valencia has kept the old fascinating charm of Spanish history without going into modernization like Barcelona. Valencia is located along the Mediterranean Coastline and this place is famous for many historical monuments. The entire architecture in the city is influenced by Arabic culture as Arabs ruled this place for number of years. The city also has some good beaches for the visitors.

Seville:

Seville is another old Spanish city full of charm and there are a number of tourist attractions in this city. Spain is famous for bullfighting and Seville is the root place in Spain for bullfighting. Tourists visit the city to entertain themselves while watching the bullfight in the Plaza de la. If you are not interested in watching a bullfight, then you can visit the popular Alcazar Gardens in Seville. These gardens are really very beautiful with lots of greenery, plenty of flower varieties and water streams. These gardens are a very good place for the visitors to entertain themselves and relax in the afternoon. Another place worth visiting in Seville is the Plaza de Espana. This plaza is also among the popular tourist destinations in this historical city.

These are the few cities which still have the refined form of old Spanish history and if you love exploring history, then you must visit these cities.

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COSTA DEL SOL

Overview

The region, Costa del Sol is in the Andalusia autonomous community situated in the south of Spain; the name of this region means coast of the sun or sun coast. This region comprises of the communities and coastal towns of the Mediterranean coastline in Malaga province.

This region is located in between the two regions Costa Tropical and Costa de la Luz. In the earlier days this region comprised of a number of small fishing settlements; however in the 20th century this became one of the best tourist destinations in the world. There is sunshine for 325 days in a year in this region and the temperatures are warm, thereby making this region attractive for tourists.

Some of the places that are in this region are – Malaga city and the towns Fuengirola, Marbella, Torrox, Neria, Miias, Manilva, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Estepona, etc.

This region was called Costa del Crime in the 1970s as well as 1980s because British gangsters made this region their home to escape legal cases on them.

History

The settlements of this region date back to Bronze Age and it was colonized by different cultures – Romans, Phoenicians, Vandals, Carthaginians, Moors, Visigoths, etc. before Reconquista. The population in this region was living mainly in the fishing villages as well as white villages in the mountains. During the 1950s this was developed as a tourist spot suitable for international tourists.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 29 °C in July-August and 8 °C in December.

Art and Culture

The following places are worth seeing in this region:

1.The Ancient City of Acinipo
2.Church and Countryside at Bobastro village
3.Malaga Cathedral
4.The Lovers' Leap and The pink Lagoon at Antequera
5.La Alcazaba walls
6.Castillo de Gibralfaro at Malaga
7.Picasso Museum
8.Home of Picasso

Sports and Entertainment

Costa del Sol region is about 300 KM long and boasts of a number of golf courses suitable for international golfers; this region has got the name Costa Del Golf because there are more than 75 golf courses in this region.

The Malaga city which is the Costa del Sol capital has got the maximum number of bars per sq. m as compared to any other place in Europe, thereby making it one of the most favorite places for eating and drinking. Places that are popular for nightlife are Benalmadena and Torremolinos where the night spots are open all hours. Seafood restaurants and nightclubs are plenty in the Marina area of Benalmadena.

Shopping

Popular shopping items are fine furnishings, trinkets and ceramic wares, imported items from Morocco, lingerie and leather goods – purses, shoes, coats.

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Canary Islands

Overview

The Canary Islands are located near the northern coast of Africa and these islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. There are seven large islands – Tenerife, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Gomera and La Palma– and these form an autonomous region. In addition there are some smaller islands like Alegranza, Graciosa and Lobos. The population of this autonomous region as on 1st January 2008 was about 2.1 million.

History

Prehistoric animals such as giant lizard, giant rats, etc. inhabited Canary Islands prior to the arrival of the aborigines. Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians visited these islands. First century Roman author cum philosopher Pliny the Elder has stated that there were no inhabitants when Carthaginians visited this place; however they saw ruins of great buildings.

Climate

The Canary Islands are famous for their tropical climate. The maximum and minimum average temperatures in these islands are 28°C in August and 15 °C in January.

Art and Culture

The following museums are popular in these islands:

1.House-Museum Monument to farm workers San Bartolomé – created by César Manrique, Canary Islands sculptor and architect.

2.La Alcogida Eco-museum Puerto del Rosario – designed mainly for educating children.

3.Municipal Museum of Fine Arts Santa Cruz de Tenerife – exhibits works of Ribera (Saint Joseph), Joaquín Sorolla (Portrait of Fernando Viscaí), 16th century Flemish school,(Nava Triptych) and works by Canary painters. 

4.Museum of Natural Sciences Santa Cruz de Tenerife – dedicated mainly for research on Canary Islands’ geology, flora and fauna.

5.Gáldar archaeological site Gáldar – contains remains of the pre-Hispanic culture.

6.Carta Palace Santa Cruz de Tenerife – is an 18th century building combining the Baroque and Neoclassic styles.

Cuisine

The cuisines of Canary Islands consist of traditional Spanish recipes combined with African and Latin-American cuisines.

The following items are popular.

1.Papas Arrugadas - potatoes with their skin are boiled in salt-water and served with Mojo picon, which is hot sauce of oil, chili-peppers, garlic and paprika.

2.Gofio – is the main staple diet. Wheat, Barley and maize are roasted and ground into flour and used in many recipes – soups, desserts, stews, sauces, ice cream, etc.

3.Caldereta and Sancocho Canario – are salted fish in a Mojo sauce.

4.Potaje de Berros – is a hot-pot of chick-peas that is well known.

Sports and Entertainment

The following sports are unique to Canary Islands.

1.Game of the sticks – in this the opponents’ fence using long sticks.

2.Shepard's jump – involves using a long stick in order to vault over an open area.

Shopping

Duty free shopping is quite popular in Canary Islands. You could take advantage of this.

Business

The economy is mainly dependent on tourism that contributes 32% of the GDP. In addition many agricultural items such as tomato, potato, onion, sugarcane, grapes, vines, peaches, almonds, etc. also contribute to the strength of the economy.

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CAZORLA

Overview

The city Cazorla is situated in the province of Jaén in Spain. As per the census of 2006 it has been estimated that this city has a population of about 8200 people.

Cazorla is located at 836 M elevation on the western inclination of the Sierra de Cazorla. The second largest river in Spain – the Guadalquivir originates from the mountains in the settlement.

History

The history of Cazorla is two thousand years old. It was called Carcacena when the Romans ruled this place. These settlements were both Iberian and Roman; this was also one of the first bishoprics of ancient Christian Spain. This acted as a strategic stronghold under the Moors and was guarded by a fortress and watchtower. In 1235 there was a bitter struggle between Moors and Christians and the town was used as an outpost by Christian troops.

The two castles in this town indicate the turbulence that this town has undergone during various regimes. These were originally built by Moors but subsequently altered and renovated by their Christian conquerors.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 34°C in July and 2 °C in January.

Art and Culture

There are a number of fascinating places in the old town that can be explored. The streets in this town are very steep and you will find a castle precariously overlooking the surrounding countryside.

The Natural Park of Sierras de Cazorla Segura y las Villas is a vast area of forests and river gorges and these are considered as protected areas. People visiting these areas make Cazorla as their base.

Cuisine

You can drink and eat in the spit-and-sawdust bars that are available in large numbers. They serve good tapas in addition to the popular drinks. You must go in for eating local food cooked on a wood fired range. One item that is popular is the conejo – made from rabbit but it could deteriorate during high seasons.

Sports and Entertainment

Some of the popular sports played in this town are – Fishing, Bowling, Rafting, Canoeing, Horseback Riding, Snow Skiing and Swimming. Adventure sports such as trekking, speleology; paragliding and hang-gliding are popular in the natural parks.

Shopping

Cazalla is considered as a shopper's paradise. You can shop items such as ceramics, leather goods, flamenco costumes, embroidery, fans, pottery, straw hats, olive oil and local cheeses.

Business

The economy of Cazorla is highly dependent on tourism; it hosts events in July like Cazorla Blues. Olive oil is produced in large quantities which add up to the revenue.

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CAZALLA DE LA SIERRA

Overview

Cazalla De La Sierra is located at a distance of 90 kms north of Seville; this is the second largest town in Sierra Norte Natural Park. This has one of the best churches in the mountain range – Sierra Morena and has beautiful churches and grand mansions. At the outskirts there is a hotel that has been converted from a 15th-century monastery.

History

Cazalla De La Sierra is a regional Sierra capital; this town looks like a metropolis and has good infrastructure. The origin of this town dates back to Roman times; originally it was called Callentum and this name was changed by Moors to Kazalla meaning fortified city.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 28°C in July-August and 11 °C in December-January.

Art and Culture

One of the important monuments in this town is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación located in the southern part of the town. This church is one of the best examples of mix and match architecture followed by Andaluz. The construction of this building began in the 14th century followed by some good Renaissance touches; this was finally completed in the 18th century. 

Another 18th century church – Ermita del Monte is located above the Rivera de Huesna on a wooded hill and the distance from the town is only 5 kms; you can easily walk to this place.

Cuisine

The cherry brandy – Guinda and the aniseed-based liqueur – anis are produced in Cazalla and these are popular all over the world. The local bars and restaurants serve these drinks in conjunction with cured or spicy sausages (salchichon or chorizo).

Some of the specialty food items in this place are – Gazpacho Blanco that is made using fried egg, rabbit liver, garlic, olive oil, bread, mint and vinegar. Cazalla is also famous for its aniseed cakes as well as its Iberian pork products.

Sports and Entertainment

Plenty of bars and eating places are available in this town. You can also get simple hearty meals in the casino located at the central La Plazuela. One can drink and relax in the casino quietly and comfortably as compared to the bars because the casino is more of a club.

Shopping

Popular items for shopping are – ceramics, leather goods, embroidery, flamenco costumes and fans.

Business

This place is popular throughout the world for Anis and Guinda which are aniseed-based liqueur and cherry brandy respectively. Hence all the industries in Cazalla are connected either with production or marketing or export of these products.

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CARMONA

Overview

Carmona is in the province of Seville in south-western Spain and it is a picturesque, small town located on a low hill 43 km from Seville. The population in 2008 was 29,750. The citadel of Carmona is in ruins at present; it was originally the principal fortress of Pedro of Castile wherein a spacious palace was built. The main entrance to the town is a Moorish gateway.

History

Carmona is located nearer to Seville and hence its history is more or less similar to that of Seville. It has a 15th century tower which is similar to the tower Giralda in Seville. This was one of the most important Roman cities and was governed by the brother of the Sevillan ruler under Moors. Pedro the Cruel later on built a palace inside the castle and used it as his royal residence.

Puerto de Sevilla is a grand fortified gateway that is in ruins and is at the entrance to the town; this leads you to the historic part of the town.

Culture

The popular monuments in Carmona are – Church of the Convent of Santa Ana, Church of El Salvador, Church of Santa Maria de la Asunción, Convent of the Immaculate Conception, Convent of the Trinidad, Hermitage of Our Lady of Real or San Antón, Hermitage of San Mateo, House-Palace Marquess of Torres, House-Palace of Rueda, Palace of King Don Pedro, Roman Bridge and The Church of San Pedro.

Cuisine

The restaurants and bars in Carmona offer a variety of tapas and dishes. Some of the popular dishes in this place are – soup picadillo, chickpeas snails, cooked rural tagarninas, Crumb salmorejospinach chickpeas, pringá, etc. Popular sweets are – English cakes, rice with milk, rolls milk, almond cakes, pastries, puffs, etc.

Entertainment

Popular sports in Carmona are – court sports, golf, boating, horse riding, snowboarding, cycling, water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and rafting.

A 28km-long greenway from Carmona to Alcalá de Guadaíra exists through Verde of the Hills and one can walk or bike or go on horseback on this greenway.

Shopping

Plenty of shopping opportunities exist in this town; you can shop in the shopping centers, malls, specialist shops and markets that are held often in the town as well as surrounding areas. 

Business

In Carmona plenty of trading takes place in cattle, wine, olive oil and grain; every year in April, an annual fair is held which gives everyone an opportunity for observing the costumes and customs of southern Spain.

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Places of interest in Spain

Certainly it is very difficult to make a list of all the places of interest in Spain. This is because the number of places which are of interest for tourists in Spain runs into thousands. Every province, town and village on the top of mountains or on the coastline has something interesting to offer for a tourist. It could be churches, cathedrals, museums, coves on the beach; there is something or the other a tourist would find interesting while on his visit to Spain. Let us try to find out some of the most interesting places in Spain.

The Casa De Pilatos:

This palace which is envyingly beautiful is the home of the Dukes of Medinaceli. The royal family is still residing in this palace. This is one of the most visited places in Seville. The palace is believed to have been built in 1518. In the year 1829 a marble portal crafted by master craftsmen from Genoan was also commissioned. The entire palace has a happy combination of Gothic architecture and the courtyard is built in typical Mudejar. The interior of the palace is most popular for its spellbounding decorative works of art. It also has most delicate plaster work. The arches resemble typical Gothic architecture. The stunningly beautiful statues dancing muse and Ceres, statue of Minerva and the Athena of Greek which is believed to belong to 5th century BC find their place here. These statues are immensely beautiful. There is a museum which depicts some of the popular art works dating back to the Roman period and other works of art.

Razon Valley:

All that this place requires from you is a bit of adventurous spirit. Located in the north of Spain, this rocky area is most ideal for those who have fascination for trekking and adventure. As you climb this rocky area, you see a giant rock which is believed to be about 5000 years old. You will come across beautiful natural sceneries around, the Lobos Natural Park and also a canyon wall which is about 200 meters in height. In fact, the Canyon wall is the abode for some of the vultures. Stunningly beautiful rock formations can also be seen here. On the top of the hill, you will just get into a village which is believed to have been in existence since the medieval period. The village has narrow roads, conical chimney and traditional buildings which present a beautiful view. There is a museum and abutting the museum is the archaeological place dating back to the Celts civilization.

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Tourist Spots in Barcelona….Spain

Barcelona is the capital and biggest city of Spain and this is not the only reason behind its popularity among the tourists. There are several other reasons too which attract the tourists to this wonderful city throughout the year. If you are looking for a good and wonderful place to spend your summer holidays this summer, then Barcelona in Spain is the right destination for you. This wonderful city is situated along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea and this is the reason behind the perfect climate and temperature of the city as you will find the climate neither very cold during winter nor very hot during summer. Being the capital city of Spain, all major industrial activities are focused in Barcelona.

If you are the one who loves seeing art work, then you will find many great cultural places in Barcelona. Among these you can visit Museum, Opera Theater, Palau de la Musica, Concert Hall, Gran Teatre del Liceu and National Museum in Catalonia. You will also find a variety of good architectural works when you visit the Churches as the monuments here depict the Roman culture.

Along with many art and culture places, Barcelona city is also famous among the tourists for its beaches. There are seven beaches in the city and you can enjoy your time at any beach with a variety of sports and fun activities.

Barcelona has also a lot to offer in terms of variety of food. The famous Barcelona cuisine includes the bread and tomato, many different sausages with the topping of beans and Catalan Stew. Sweet Crème Catalana is the famous dessert of Barcelona food.

Barcelona has a variety of shopping places for the visitor as shopping is the most important part of vacations. There are many art works and monuments along with different kinds of interior and you can buy these either from the big stores or from the street bazaars. Espanyol de Montjuic is the place where you can spend hours as this place has a variety of things which makes choice difficult. Barcelona is also famous for its fashion and you can buy the stylish items from the place called Barcelona Centro. There are many shopping centers which have luxury items as well.

So, these are some of the reasons among many for you to spend your summer vacation in Barcelona. You will surely remember your vacation in Barcelona for different reasons.

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